Page 2114 - war-and-peace

Suddenly Natasha bent her head, covered her face with
her hands, and began to cry.
‘What is it, Natasha?’ said Princess Mary.
‘Nothing, nothing.’ She smiled at Pierre through her
tears. ‘Good night! It is time for bed.’
Pierre rose and took his leave.
Princess Mary and Natasha met as usual in the bed-
room. They talked of what Pierre had told them. Princess
Mary did not express her opinion of Pierre nor did Natasha
speak of him.
‘Well, good night, Mary!’ said Natasha. ‘Do you know,
I am often afraid that by not speaking of him’ (she meant
Prince Andrew) ‘for fear of not doing justice to our feelings,
we forget him.’
Princess Mary sighed deeply and thereby acknowledged
the justice of Natasha’s remark, but she did not express
agreement in words.
‘Is it possible to forget?’ said she.
‘It did me so much good to tell all about it today. It was
hard and painful, but good, very good!’ said Natasha. ‘I am
sure he really loved him. That is why I told him... Was it all
right?’ she added, suddenly blushing.
‘To tell Pierre? Oh, yes. What a splendid man he is!’ said
Princess Mary.
‘Do you know, Mary...’ Natasha suddenly said with a
mischievous smile such as Princess Mary had not seen on
her face for a long time, ‘he has somehow grown so clean,
smooth, and freshas if he had just come out of a Russian bath;
do you understand? Out of a moral bath. Isn’t it true?’

2114 War and Peace